Littlebury History Group

This site has been set up by the Littlebury History Group and supports the work of the society in researching, recording and sharing information relating to our parish. The parish includes the villages of Littlebury, Littlebury Green and Catmere End.

If you have information you think should be included on this site please email it to postmaster@littleburyhistory.org.uk or telephone 01799 526437

Littlebury, A Parish History

The fruit of our labours, our community book: 'LITTLEBURY, A PARISH HISTORY' is available by post.

Within its 288 pages the reader is taken by over 40 authors from pre-history to the late 20th century and can dip into fascinating chapters dealing with the religion, charity, wealth and poverty, farming, poaching, transport, social mores and much more as they were experienced through the ages in this delightful north west Essex parish. Colourful figures such as Henry Winstanley who built the Eddystone Lighthouse, King Charles 11, Capability Brown and John Griffin Griffin an owner of Audley End, stride across this historic landscape whilst the lives - and deaths - of lesser known characters - vicars, soldiers, travellers, nurses, schoolteachers and labourers amongst them fill the spaces in between.

Even if you don't live in Littlebury, this book, which was long listed for the Longman/History Today book awards is an excellent read, evoking a detailed picture of rural English life across the centuries.

History Today's editor Peter Furtado said in his review shortly after publication: 'ONE OF THE GLORIES OF ENGLISH HISTORY is the hidden fiches to be uncovered in almost any town or village. Yet local histories can either be formidably antiquarian or disappointingly slim. This volume, covering an Essex parish close to Saffron Walden, is huge but beautifully presented and intelligently written for any reader.'

This summer's edition of the Ancient Monuments Society Newsletter reviewed the book very favourably, ending with the accolade: 'Not even Candleford has so come alive within the pages of a single book'.

The cost of our full colour history is £15 plus postage and packing (in the UK currently £5.60 - the book weighs 1.5 kilos).

For a copy contact either
Lizzie Sanders sanders-art@talk21.com or Gillian Williamson
gswilliamson@btinternet.com.

Also available from Lizzie Sanders is the full colour PARISH OF LITTLEBURY MILLENNIUM ALBUM, a recording of Littlebury people and their way of life in the year 2000. There are now only a few copies left; the cost of the album and p&p is the same. Postal rates for sending abroad for either book will be advised on enquiry.

The making of 'LITTLEBURY, A PARISH HISTORY' was funded by the Local Heritage Initiative and the in-kind contributions of the participants.

Funded by